Guilty by Karen Robards

Guilty by Karen Robards Plot Summary

Introduction

# Shadows of Justice: The Price of Redemption The gavel fell with finality in Courtroom 207, but Kate White never heard it. Instead, she heard the sharp crack of gunfire that would shatter her carefully constructed life forever. What began as a routine armed robbery trial exploded into a massacre when prisoners broke free, turning the Philadelphia Criminal Justice Center into a killing field. Judge Moran's head disappeared in a crimson mist. Deputies fell like dominoes. And Kate found herself dragged into the secure corridors below, a hostage to men with nothing left to lose. But the real terror began when she recognized one of the gunmen. Mario Castellanos—a ghost from her buried past, when she was eighteen-year-old Katrina Kominski running with the wrong crowd in Baltimore. The night that changed everything. The night a security guard named David Brady died, and six teenagers scattered like roaches when the lights came on. Now Mario held her life in his hands, along with a secret that could destroy everything she'd built for herself and her nine-year-old son Ben. The prosecutor who'd fought so hard to become one of the good guys was about to learn that some sins never wash clean, no matter how far you run.

Chapter 1: The Prosecutor's Buried Past

Kate White had spent nine years burying Katrina Kominski, but the past has a way of clawing its way back to the surface. At twenty-eight, she was everything the scared foster kid from Baltimore had dreamed of becoming—a prosecutor in Philadelphia's District Attorney's office, a single mother raising her son Ben in a safe suburban neighborhood, a woman who'd pulled herself up from nothing through sheer determination and night school. The morning of the trial, she'd stood in her modest Cape Cod home, adjusting Ben's backpack and reminding him about basketball practice. He was small for his age, bookish like her, struggling to fit in at his new school. Everything she did was for him—the long hours studying law while waitressing, the careful budgeting, the relentless climb toward respectability. She was building them a life where the past couldn't touch them. Her phone buzzed with Ben's school calling about him being sick, but she pushed the worry aside as she walked into Courtroom 207 that Monday morning. The case seemed routine—Julio "Little Julie" Soto, another street punk who'd beaten a convenience store clerk half to death. She had the evidence, the witnesses, the moral certainty that came with putting away the bad guys. The irony would have been laughable if it weren't so terrifying. Kate White, champion of justice, was about to come face to face with the eighteen-year-old girl who'd been present when David Brady died in a Baltimore parking lot all those years ago. Some secrets, she was about to learn, have a way of demanding payment with interest. Judge Moran was settling into his chair when her forgotten cell phone betrayed her with Ben's ringtone—"Don't Cha" by the Pussycat Dolls blaring through the courtroom's dignity. His face turned the color of a ripe tomato as Kate scrambled toward her briefcase, mortified. That's when the first shots rang out.

Chapter 2: When Violence Shatters the Courtroom

The Pussycat Dolls ringtone shattered the morning's routine at the worst possible moment. Kate's forgotten cell phone blared as Judge Moran's face darkened with fury. She'd been arguing with defense attorney Ed Curry about his last-minute witness when her phone betrayed her with Ben's musical prank from the weekend. "Turn it off. Now." Moran's voice could have frozen hell. Kate scrambled toward her briefcase when the first shots cracked through the air. Little Julie Soto was on his feet, a pistol materializing in his hand like a magic trick gone wrong. The sound she'd grown up with in Baltimore's worst neighborhoods had followed her into this temple of justice. Judge Moran raised his hands in a futile gesture of surrender. The bullet took his head apart in a spray of blood and bone that painted the wall behind the bench. Kate's knees buckled as she dropped behind the counsel table, her mind struggling to process the impossible. This was Philadelphia's Criminal Justice Center, not some crack house in West Baltimore. More prisoners burst from the secure corridor, guns blazing. Deputies fell screaming. The jury box became a stampede of terror. Kate pressed herself against the floor as bullets whined overhead, the smell of cordite mixing with the copper stench of blood. Bryan Chen cowered beside her, both of them trapped in a nightmare that had erupted from the mundane routine of another Tuesday morning. The massacre lasted minutes but felt like hours. Rodriguez, lean and desperate with dead eyes, grabbed Kate by her hair and pressed his pistol to her temple. The metal was warm from recent firing. "Nobody moves or the prosecutor dies," he snarled, his breath hot against her ear. Detective Tom Braga appeared in the doorway, his weapon drawn but useless with Kate as a human shield. His dark eyes met hers across the carnage, and she saw absolute determination there. He would get her out alive, or die trying. But as Rodriguez dragged her toward the secure corridor, Kate's blood turned to ice at what waited beyond that reinforced glass door.

Chapter 3: A Deadly Recognition in the Corridor

The secure corridor felt like a tomb, all gray walls and fluorescent lighting that turned everything the color of old bones. Kate's captor pressed his gun against her neck as he forced her deeper into the maze of holding cells. She could smell his sweat, his desperation, the metallic scent of the weapon that could end her life with a twitch of his finger. "I want a helicopter," Rodriguez screamed into the phone, his arm tightening around her throat. "Fifteen minutes or she's dead." But it was the voice from the holding cell that made her blood freeze. "Hey, there, Kitty-cat. No need to look so scared." Mario Castellanos stepped out of the shadows like something from her worst nightmares. Bigger now, pumped up on steroids and prison muscle, his head shaved clean, but those same cruel eyes that had watched David Brady bleed out in a Baltimore parking lot nine years ago. The dragon tattoo coiled around his wrist like a promise of violence. "Long time no see," he said, and shot Rodriguez in the chest. The sound echoed off the concrete walls as Rodriguez crumpled, his blood spreading across the floor in a dark pool. Kate stared at the corpse, then at Mario, understanding flooding through her like ice water. This wasn't random. This wasn't chance. Mario had orchestrated this moment, used the chaos of the escape attempt to corner her. "You owe me," he said, wiping the gun clean before pressing it into her trembling hands. "And now you're going to pay up." The scared eighteen-year-old girl she'd buried so deep came clawing back to the surface, remembering that night when everything went wrong, when David Brady's badge caught the streetlight as he lay dying, when six kids scattered into the darkness carrying a secret that could destroy them all. Mario's smile was all teeth and malice as Tom's voice crackled through the intercom, trying to negotiate their surrender.

Chapter 4: Blackmail and Impossible Choices

The detention center's visiting room smelled of industrial disinfectant and despair. Kate sat in the plastic chair, her hands steady on the metal table despite the terror clawing at her insides. Mario lounged across from her, separated by bulletproof glass but close enough that she could see the satisfaction in his eyes. "Looking good, Kitty-cat," he said into the phone. "Real high-class nowadays." "What do you want?" She kept her voice level, professional. Never let them see fear—the first rule of survival she'd learned on Baltimore's streets. "Out of jail. And you're going to get me out." His smile was all teeth and malice. "Remember that security guard we took down that night? David Brady?" The name hit her like a physical blow. She'd spent nine years trying to forget David Brady, the off-duty cop who'd tried to stop a convenience store robbery and ended up bleeding out on the asphalt while six teenagers ran for their lives. "I had nothing to do with that," she said, but they both knew it was a lie. Under the law, presence at a felony murder made her as guilty as the one who pulled the trigger. "Names and places, Kitty-cat. I know names and places." Mario leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You're a prosecutor now. You know how this works. One phone call from me, and your pretty little life comes crashing down." Kate thought of Ben, waiting for her at school, trusting her to keep him safe. She thought of the house they'd finally found, the job she'd fought so hard to get, the respectability she'd clawed her way toward one night class at a time. "What makes you think they'd believe you over me?" she asked, but her heart was already sinking. Mario's grin widened. "Because I got nothing to lose, and you got everything." The truth of it settled over her like a shroud. She was trapped, caught between the woman she'd become and the girl she'd tried so hard to leave behind.

Chapter 5: Protecting What Matters Most

The basketball bounced off the garage door for the hundredth time, and Ben's shoulders sagged with defeat. Kate retrieved it from the shadows under the oak tree, her heart aching for her son's struggles. He was too small, too bookish, too much like her to excel at the sports that mattered to nine-year-old boys. "Was my dad any good at sports?" Ben asked wistfully. Kate lied smoothly about Chaz White, the violent bouncer who'd abandoned them both. Ben deserved better than the truth about his father, just like he deserved better than a mother with blood on her hands. That's when the man stepped out from behind the tree. He was big, wearing dark clothes and a watch cap pulled low over his eyes. Kate couldn't see his face clearly in the moonlight, but she could feel the menace radiating from him like heat from a furnace. "Kate White," he said, her name sounding like a judgment. "Go in the house," she ordered Ben, stepping between her son and the stranger. Her heart hammered against her ribs as Ben ran for the garage door. "I got a message for you," the man said. "Mario says you owe him. He says you better not screw him over." The words hit her like physical blows. Mario wasn't content to wait. He was escalating, bringing the threat to her home, to Ben. The careful life she'd built was crumbling around her, and there was nowhere left to run. Car headlights swept across the yard, and the stranger melted back into the shadows. Kate stood frozen in the driveway, shaking with terror and rage, as Detective Tom Braga's car pulled in. The cop who suspected her was about to become her unlikely protector, at least for one night.

Chapter 6: A Son's Life Hangs in the Balance

The white van appeared out of nowhere as Kate sat at the stop sign, Ben chattering about his day in the passenger seat. She had been planning to run, to take her son and disappear into the night like she had done once before. The suitcases were packed in the trunk, their most precious belongings ready for another desperate flight from the past. Then the window exploded in a shower of glass. "Mom!" Ben's scream cut through her like a blade as black-gloved hands reached through the opening, dragging him from the car. Kate lunged across the seats, her fingers grasping at his jacket, but the material was slippery and her grip failed. The man in the ski mask was enormous, his arms like steel cables as he hauled Ben toward the van. Kate threw herself from the car, her heels skidding on the asphalt as she ran after them. "Let him go! Take me instead!" The blow to her stomach doubled her over, driving the air from her lungs in a painful whoosh. Through tears of agony, she watched them throw Ben into the van like a sack of grain. His terrified face appeared at the rear window for just a moment before the vehicle roared away into the darkness. "You shouldn't have tried to run," the voice said behind her, familiar now in its cold menace. It was one of Mario's people, the ones who had cornered her before. "Now your boy pays the price for your stupidity." Kate collapsed to her knees on the cold pavement, her world reduced to the sound of her own ragged breathing and the fading echo of Ben's screams. They had her son. They had taken the only thing in the world that mattered to her, and now they owned her completely. The man crouched beside her, his breath warm against her ear. "Tomorrow night, you go to that fundraiser like a good little prosecutor. You wait for our call. You do exactly what we tell you. And maybe—just maybe—you get your boy back in one piece."

Chapter 7: Truth as the Only Way Forward

Tom's living room had become a war room. FBI agents huddled around laptops, their faces grim in the blue glow of computer screens. Detective Fish paced by the window, his usual swagger replaced by the tense energy of a man running out of time. Kate sat on the couch where she and Tom had first made love, now confessing to crimes that could send her to prison for the rest of her life. "David Brady," she said, the name like poison on her tongue. "The security guard in Baltimore. I killed him." The words hung in the air like smoke, and she saw Tom's face tighten with something that might have been disappointment or understanding or both. Special Agent Willets looked up from his files, his expression carefully neutral. "Tell us about Mario Castellanos. Tell us about the corridor." So she did. She told them about the eighteen-year-old girl who had fallen in love with the wrong boy, who had followed him into a convenience store that night thinking it was just another petty theft. She told them about David Brady drawing his weapon, about the split second when she had to choose between Jason's life and a stranger's. She told them about the years of running, of building a new identity, of trying to become someone worthy of her son's love. "Mario was there that day in the courthouse," she continued, her voice growing stronger with each revelation. "He shot Rodriguez and put the gun in my hands. He's been blackmailing me ever since." Tom's phone buzzed. He answered it with a sharp "Braga," then his face went pale. "They found your car," he told Kate. "And there's something else. We got an ID on the man who signed Mario's release order." The security footage was grainy, but Kate recognized the walk, the way he held his shoulders. Ed Curry, the public defender who had been in Courtroom 207 that day. Another piece of the puzzle clicking into place, another thread in the web that had trapped her son. "Ben's somewhere he can see that dinosaur billboard," Kate said suddenly, remembering her son's cryptic message during the phone call. "He was trying to tell me where they're holding him." Tom was already reaching for his jacket. "The navy yard. That T-Rex sign is visible from the whole shipyard." His dark eyes met hers, and she saw the promise there. "We're going to get him back, Kate. I swear to God, we're going to bring Ben home."

Chapter 8: Justice Redeemed Through Love

The warehouse smelled of motor oil and fear. Kate's stiletto heels clicked against the concrete as she was pushed through the darkness, her heart hammering against her ribs. Then she saw him—Ben, small and pale in the flashlight's glare, a gun pressed to his temple by a man in black. "Mom," Ben whispered, and the word contained all the trust and love in the world. Sergeant Ike Morrison stepped out of the shadows behind them, his police badge catching the light. Tom's partner, his friend, the man who had sold his soul for money and power. "Should have minded your own business, Tom," he said, his voice heavy with regret that came too late. The next few minutes blurred together like a nightmare. Ben's teeth sinking into his captor's arm, his small body exploding toward freedom. Kate's heel driving into her guard's knee with desperate strength. Tom grappling with men who had once been his brothers in blue, the sickening sound of fists on flesh echoing through the cavernous space. Then gunshots, sharp and final in the darkness. FBI agents pouring through the doorway like avenging angels. And finally, blessedly, Ben running into her arms, his face streaked with tears but his eyes bright with the fierce joy of survival. "You were so brave," Kate whispered into his hair, breathing in the scent of her son, her miracle, her reason for living. "Somebody had to do something," Ben replied with nine-year-old pragmatism. Then he looked at Tom, who stood nearby with his jacket torn and his knuckles bloody. "Okay, I've done my part. I saved her life. Now it's over to you for a while." Eight months later, Kate walked down the aisle of Our Lady of the Sorrows Church in a white dress that felt like redemption. The immunity deal had cleared her name, the truth about Baltimore finally laid to rest. Ben walked beside her in a black tuxedo, grinning at Tom who waited at the altar with tears in his dark eyes. The past would always be there, a shadow at the edge of memory. But shadows couldn't hurt you when you walked in the light, surrounded by people who loved you not despite your flaws but because of how those flaws had shaped you into someone worth loving.

Summary

Kate White's carefully constructed life as a Philadelphia prosecutor crumbles when her buried past as Katrina Kominski surfaces in the most violent way possible. The courthouse massacre that should have made her a hero instead becomes the catalyst for her destruction, as Mario Castellanos uses their shared secret from a Baltimore killing nine years ago to trap her in an impossible choice. She can maintain her lie about shooting Rodriguez and become Mario's puppet in the justice system, or tell the truth and lose everything she's built for herself and her son Ben. The novel explores the weight of past sins and the price of redemption in a world where justice is often just another word for survival. Kate's transformation from street kid to prosecutor represents the American dream of reinvention, but some ghosts refuse to stay buried. In the shadows between law and lawlessness, Kate must navigate a treacherous path where every choice carries the potential for salvation or damnation. When she finally finds the courage to speak the truth and trust Tom with her darkest moments, she discovers that redemption comes not from running from the past, but from facing it with the people who choose to stand beside you in the darkness.

About Author

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Karen Robards

Robards extends the boundaries of thriller, suspense, and romance genres by interweaving engaging storytelling with the chilling elements that define her work. As a bestselling author, she has written over fifty books and one novella, showcasing a distinctive Southern influence in her writing style. Her narratives are known for their fast-paced and captivating quality, ensuring readers remain engrossed throughout. The combination of Robards's mastery in crafting gripping plots and her rich Kentucky heritage creates a unique literary voice that stands out in her fields.\n\nHer career is marked by significant recognition and accomplishments. The Black Swan of Paris is among her most notable works, demonstrating her skill in capturing readers' attention within the literary community. Robards has also been honored with multiple awards, including six Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Awards, cementing her reputation as a leading figure in her genres. Her books frequently appear on bestseller lists, which underscores the broad appeal and commercial success she has achieved as an author.\n\nRobards's writing offers readers an immersive experience, with stories that transcend typical genre boundaries and provide a thrilling escape. Her ability to create compelling narratives with a Southern charm appeals to a wide audience, making her a reliable name for those seeking engrossing and well-crafted stories. This short bio highlights her journey from being first published in Reader's Digest at a young age to becoming a renowned author who captivates readers worldwide with her dynamic and impactful storytelling.

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